A Soldier of the Great War
Private William See
52nd Battalion ( 2nd reinforcements)
William SEE
Regimental number 1745
Religion Church of England
Occupation Farmer
Address Brisbane, Queensland
Marital status Single
Age at embarkation 25
Next of kin Father, Thomas See,
Hapsburg, Childers,
Queensland
Enlistment date 8 January 1916
Rank on enlistment Private
Unit name 52nd Battalion, 2nd
Reinforcement
AWM Embarkation Roll
number 23/69/3
Embarkation details Unit embarked from
Sydney, New South
Wales, on board SS
Hawkes Bay on 20
April 1916
Rank from Nominal Roll Private
Unit from Nominal Roll 15th Battalion
Fate Returned to Australia
10 April 1919
Family/military connections Brother: 1747 Pte
Thomas SEE, 50th Bn,
returned to Australia,
12 May 1919.
Source……..AIF Project
Private William See AIF
William See born in Childers Qld .At the age of 25 years and 4 months, a farmer , he enlisted in the AIF in Brisbane on the 8th January 1916 and was given the Service Number 1745, being initially enlisted in the 15th Battalion of the 4th Brigade.
After initial training probably at Chermside in Brisbane he and his brother Thomas who had enrolled at the same time embarked from Sydney, New South Wales on board SS Hawkes Bay on 20 April 1916 bound for the battlefields of France and Belgium.
Disembarking at Alexandria and Suez first on the 27th May 1916 and then finally Plymouth in England ,he proceeded to France on the 15th September 1916 arriving in Etaples where he was absorbed into the 52nd Battalion and joined his unit on the 30th September 1916.
The Battalion was trained behind the front line near Abbeville in Northern France near Amiens. This was near the coast and where the Australian Battalions first arrived before being sent elsewhere. Etaples was the probable landing place in France.
They were engaged in their first real battles at Poziers and Mouquet farm on the Somme in April 1916.
The 52nd Battalion was raised at Tel el Kebir in Egypt on 1 March 1916 as part of the "doubling" of the AIF. Approximately half of its recruits were veterans from the 12th Battalion, and the other half, fresh reinforcements from Australia. The 52nd became part of the 13th Brigade of the 4th Australian Division. After arriving in France on 11 June 1916, the 52nd fought in its first major battle at Mouquet Farm on 3 September. It had been present during an earlier attack mounted by the 13th Brigade between 13 and 15 August, but had been allocated a support role and missed the fighting. In this second attack the 52nd had a key assaulting role and suffered heavy casualties- 50 per cent of its fighting strength. The battalion saw out the rest of the year alternating between front line duty, and training and labouring behind the line. This routine continued through the bleak winter of 1916-17. From November through December the battalion was based around St Vas, Buire and Vignacourt in support roles and Flers on the front line on the Somme. (During late December and early January 1916-1917 for about 2 -3 weeks the battalion was rested and based in Vignacourt in Picardy . This is when the photographs were taken by the Thuilliers.) In early January 1917, while on the front line at Flers he contracted mumps and spent time in clearing stations and field hospitals at Abbeville and Rouen before rejoining his Battalion on the 13th February 1917.He was wounded in the field around the 7th April 1917 , spent time in a clearing station with a compound fracture it appears and on the 24th April he was transferred to St Andrews hospital in England
via Boulogne. On the 6th July after convalescing he was transferred to the base depot at Weymouth in Dartford, England and joined the overseas training brigade at Sandhill Camp. Finally in late November 1917 he rejoined his unit in France. He was again in training behind the lines and in reinforcement as required around Abbeville. In early February 1918 he reported sick to hospital again but returned to the field in late February. The Battalion was on the front lines on the Salient near to Ypres in Belgium for most of March. They also were involved in action around the Hill 60 and Ridgewod Camp area known for its huge mine detonations. In April the battalion once again moved back to the Somme around Dernancourt and Buire for action on the front as the Germans mustered one final advancement on the Hindenburg Line. They would rest in Corbie and Bonnay not far from the front. In April William would be part of the Australian offensive around Villers Brettoneux. Here he was wounded again on the 25th April 1918 during the Australian advances . The plan to recapture Villers–Bretonneux was relatively simple, but difficult and dangerous. The Germans had been able to place a significant number of men and machine guns in the town and along the railway embankment to the south and west. Strong enemy elements had also established themselves in the woods to the west of the town. The Australian plan was for a surprise night attack, with no preliminary artillery bombardment. Two battalions (the 51st and 52nd Battalions, about 1,500 men) of the 13th Brigade, 4th Division, would attack to the south of Villers–Bretonneux towards the east. Three battalions (the 57th, 59th and 60th Battalions, about 2,400 men) of the 15th Brigade, 5th Division, would similarly attack from the north of the town towards the east and then swing south–east to the old Roman road heading out of Villers–Bretonneux. Thus would the Germans be encircled and trapped. “Much of this ‘swish and patter’ was from enemy machine guns in the Bois d’Aquenne (Aquenne Wood) to their left. This obstacle was overcome in a most dramatic manner by Sergeant Charlie Stokes, and Lieutenant Clifford Sadlier, both of Subiaco, Western Australia, and the 51st Battalion, who realised that further advance meant annihilation for their unit unless the machine gunners were silenced. Together they assaulted the Germans with grenades and, although Sadlier was badly wounded, he and his men destroyed the enemy guns. Despite taking heavy casualties the two battalions swept on towards their objectives.
And so by the morning of 25 April 1918 the men of the AIF, with some assistance by British units, had virtually surrounded Villers–Bretonneux. It took the rest of that day and into 26 April to completely secure the town and to establish a new front line east of it. This, the Second Battle of Villers–Bretonneux, had been a remarkable achievement and a clear-cut success for the AIF. It marked the end of the great German offensive on the Somme which had begun so successfully on 21 March 1918 and, as the historian of the 5th Division concluded, ‘Thereafter, no German ever set foot in Villers–Bretonneux save as a prisoner of war.’” -Source AWM
With gunshot wounds to his both legs William was admitted to the General Hospital in Rouen and finally transferred to England again to the 3rd Auxilliary hospital in Dartford in mid May 1918 to once again convalesce. Transferred to a training battalion in September 1918 he returned to France on the 29th September 1918 and spent time with the remains of the 15th Battalion. It was here in the field that he heard news of the Armistice . His service continued until an ulcer to his left leg forced him again into hospital in early 1919 finally returning to England. Departing on the troop ship Medic on the 31st May 1919 he left Europe and disembarked on the 1st November 1919 in Australia…home at last. He had arrived in France at the beginning of the Australian involvement in 1916, had taken part in many important battles of the Great War and had survived to return home. Sourced from AWM material and Soldier records and Battalion War Diaries- Australian National Archives
52nd Battalion, 2nd Reinforcement
AWM Roll number: 23/69/3
Embarkations:
1. From Sydney, New South Wales on board SS Hawkes Bay on 20 April 1916
2. From Sydney, New South Wales on board RMS Mooltan on 12 April 1916
1613 ALLISON, William Alfrd Alexander Brisbane, Queensland
1612 ANDREW, John Indooroopilly via Brisbane, Queensland
1611 ARMSTRONG, Joseph Irvine Nikenbah, Queensland
1616 BAILEY, Evan Durstan Rockhampton, Queensland
1614 BALCHIN, Harry Rockhampton, Queensland
1615 BEAUMONT, Thomas Rockhampton, Queensland
1620 BEECH, Harold Brisbane, Queensland
5344 BEILENBERG, Enrest Christie Walter hall, Mount Morgan, Queensland
1619 BERTHELSEN, Christensen Bernard Nikenbah, Queensland
1787 BIRCHLEY, Leslie Richard Rockhampton, Queensland
1621 BOASE, Leonard Charles Brisbane, Queensland
1622 BROCKHURST, Francis Graham Rockhampton, Queensland
1627 CAIRNS, Ernest Mount Morgan, Queensland
1630 CHRISTENSEN, Albert Henry Brisbane, Queensland
1625 COE, John Henry Bundaberg, Queensland
1623 CONROY, Patrick Rockhampton, Queensland
1624 CORCORAN, Bernard Wren Street, Longreach, Queensland
1628 COWDEROY, Arthur Charles Rockhampton, Queensland
1626 CRITTENDEN, Herbert Audley Kingaroy, Queensland
1629 CURRIE, Eugene Rockhampton, Queensland
1635 DAVIDSON, Arthur Hallam Rockhampton, Queensland
1632 DAWSON, Thomas Brisbane, Queensland
1631 DEVINEY, Michael John Brisbane, Queensland
1636 ELLWOOD, Frederick Arnold Memerambi, Queensland
1781 FERNLEIGH, William Joseph Brisbane, Queensland
1640 FINCH, William Barcaldine, Queensland
1641 FISCHER, Alphonsus Bundaberg, Queensland
1639 FOSTER, Frank c/o Mr Otto Lang, Murarrie, Cleveland Line,
Queensland
1775 FRASER, Alexander Ferguson Brisbane, Queensland
1637 FRAZER, George Westwood, Queensland
1638 FUARY, John Rockhampton, Queensland
1646 GODFREY, Richard Brisbane, Queensland
1645 GRAHAM, Horace hanton Rockhampton, Queensland
1642 GRANT, Henry Wondai, South Brisbane, Queensland
1644 GROOM, Richard Brisbane, Queensland
1643 GROVES, Arthur Brisbane, Queensland
1647 HANNAN, Arthur Kennedy Rockhampton, Queensland
1652 HANSEN, David Christian Capella, Queensland
1783 HARDIE, Alexander McFarlane Brisbane, Queensland
1649 HARKER, Isaac Ellis Rockhampton, Queensland
R235 HATTON, Neville Gordon
1651 HUMPHRIS, William Rockhampton, Queensland
1780 HUTT, Charles Allen Toowoomba, Queensland
1654 JACKSON, George Henry James Brisbane, Queensland
1656 JEPPERSON, Thorval Rasmus George Rockhampton, Queensland
1785 JONCOUR, Thomas Joseph Rockhampton, Queensland
1655 JONES, Lloyd Brisbane, Queensland
1778 JOY, William Rockhampton, Queensland
1665 KELLY, John Murgon, Queensland
1661 KELLY, Maurice Vincent Joseph Charters Towers, Queensland
1777A KELLY, Sidney Calliope, Queensland
1663 KELTIE, Percy William Rockhampton, Queensland
1664 KENNEDY, Charles Edward Brisbane, Queensland
1790 KINGSTON, Charles Atherton, Queensland
1662 KITCHEN, John Thomas Rockhampton, Queensland
1670 KNIGHT, Edgar James Bundaberg, Queensland
1666 KNIGHT, Frank Henry Rockhampton, Queensland
1667 KNIGHT, Frank Lewis Mount Morgan, Queensland
1669 KNIGHT, Harry Bundaberg, Queensland
1668 KNIGHT, James Bundaberg, Queensland
1678 LAING, William Brisbane, Queensland
1675 LAIRD, Donald Charles Rockhamtpon, Queensland
1679 LANGMAACK, John Alfred Enoggera, Queensland
1677 LAWRENCE, Thomas Calmer Brisbane, Queensland
1776 LEACOCK, William Joseph Brisbane, Queensland
1674 LEWIS, Robert William Rockhampton, Queensland
1676 LINWOOD, Percy Brisbane, Queensland
1672 LITTLE, John Rockhampton, Queensland
1680 LOVETT, James William Brisbane, Queensland
1692 MAGUIRE, William Osborne Brisbane, Queensland
1694 MANDERSON, Charles Brisbane, Queensland
1702 MARRIOTT, Fred Brisbane, Queensland
1690 McDONALD, Alexander Brisbane, Queensland
1682 McFETRIDGE, Samuel Rockhampton, Queensland
1701 McGREGOR, Robert William Rockhampton, Queensland
1691 McKELLAR, David Miller Brisbane, Queensland
5431 McKENZIE, Frederick c/o Mr F Bonnor, Ormiston, Queensland
1693 McKENZIE, Robert Brisbane, Queensland
1683 McKEON, Charles John Enoggera, Queensland
1689 McLEOD, William Lithgow Brisbane, Queensland
1700 McPHERSON, Arthur Norman Brisbane, Queensland
1698 MELLING, John Rockhampton, Queensland
1786 MELLON, Thomas John Rockhampton, Queensland
MENDOZA, Howard Kingsley c/o Mrs J H Nicholls, "Idamea", Graceville,
Queensland
1703 METCALFE, Ernest Cornelius Brisbane, Queensland
1699 MIKKLESEN, Percy Gustave Kent Brisbane, Queensland
1686 MILLER, John Rockhampton, Queensland
1696 MOORE, Frank Brisbane, Queensland
1685 MOREFIELD, John Rockhampton, Queensland
1688 MUDIE, Robert Rockhampton, Queensland
1708 NEILSEN, Alfred Matthew Brisbane, Queensland
1706 NELSON, Hugh Bengt Brisbane, Queensland
1705 NELSON, William Norman Brisbane, Queensland
1707 NEVE, John James Brisbane, Queensland
1704 NORTON, James Patrick Rockhampton, Queensland
1711 O'BRIEN, Edward Rockhampton, Queensland
1709 O'DONOHUE, James Brisbane, Queensland
1777 O'REILY, Edward Townsville, Queensland
1788 PATTERSON, Samuel Leatham Isisford, Queensland
1716 PEARCE, Charles William Jubilee Enoggera, Queensland
1718 PIPER, James Harry Brisbane, Queensland
1714 PITT, George Brisbane, Queensland
1717 PLUNKITT, Walter William Rockhampton, Queensland
1715 POOL, John Herbert Thomas Brisbane, Queensland
1719 PRAIN, Goldwin Norman Rockhampton, Queensland
1723 RAMPTON, Thomas Charles Brisbane, Queensland
REVENALL, Bernard Percival Clump Point, Rockingham Bay, Queensland
1731 RIDGLEY, Ernest William Brisbane, Queensland
1726 ROBERTS, William Ernest Edward Rockhampton, Queensland
1722 ROBSON, William Rockhampton, Queensland
1728 ROGERS, Peter John Brisbane, Queensland
1724 ROLFE, Francis Steven Rockhampton, Queensland
1725 ROSE, William Norman Rockhampton, Queensland
1721 ROUT, George Leonard Rockhampton, Queensland
1730 RUSSELL, Eric Rockhampton, Queensland
1743 SAVAGE, Robert John Brisbane, Queensland
1789 SCOTT, Walter Henry Brisbane, Queensland
1747 SEE, Thomas Brisbane, Queensland
1745 SEE, William Brisbane, Queensland
1741 SELLS, Thomas Richard Brisbane, Queensland
1737 SELLWOOD, Richard Stanley Rockhampton, Queensland
1746 SHAW, Ernest William Brisbane, Queensland
1740 SHEPHARD, Harry Rockhampton, Queensland
1733 SHEPPARD, Ernest Clifford Enoggera, Queensland
1734 SHEPPARD, Robert Melville Brisbane, Queensland
1742 SIMPSON, Robert Brisbane, Queensland
1739 SMITH, John Brisbane, Queensland
1748 SOMMER, Charles Frederick Rockhampton, Queensland
1738 STACEY, Henry John Rockhampton, Queensland
1736 STEWART, David Brisbane, Queensland
1732 STEWART, James Alexander Dixon Brisbane, Queensland
1744 STONE, George Brisbane, Queensland
1750 TAYLER, Charles William Brisbane, Queensland
1752 TOMLINS, Frederick Brisbane, Queensland
1757 TREVOR, Alexander Brisbane, Queensland
1756 TURBIT, Richard Charles Rockhampton, Queensland
1754 TYNAN, William Longreach, Queensland
1758 VIGOR, James Edward Brisbane, Queensland
1762 WALKER, William Heron Frazers Hill, Queensland
1766 WARNER, Ernest Gordon Rockhampton, Queensland
1774 WILLIAMS, John Brisbane, Queensland
1760 WILLIAMS, Thomas Rockhampton, Queensland
1771 WILLIAMSOON, Alexander Rockhampton, Queensland
1767 WILSON, William Robert Brisbane, Queensland
1791 WINTER, Albert Henry Toowoomba, Queensland
1768 WOOD, George Rockhampton, Queensland
1761 WORMINGTON, Wilfred David Brisbane, Queensland
1772 WYLIE, William Norman Brisbane, Queensland